Sermon Title: God Deserves More!

This Week’s Theme: Christians Are Called to Obey the LORD

This Week’s Word is Obedience: A willingness to submit oneself to the will of God and to put it into effect.

Memory Verse: Matthew 12:50 “50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.””

Essence of the Text in a Sentence: Using the actions of the Rechabites, God gave provided Jeremiah a message of obedience.

Sermon Proposition: Saints are called to honor God through obeying His will.

Sermon Objective: I want to those listening to be convicted with God’s Word to lead them in repentance confess it , despise it, evict it, and follow the LORD.

Sermon Text: Jeremiah 35:12-16

Jeremiah 35:12–16 NKJV

12 Then came the word of the Lord to Jeremiah, saying, 13 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, “Will you not receive instruction to obey My words?” says the Lord. 14 “The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, which he commanded his sons, not to drink wine, are performed; for to this day they drink none, and obey their father’s commandment. But although I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, you did not obey Me. 15 I have also sent to you all My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, ‘Turn now everyone from his evil way, amend your doings, and do not go after other gods to serve them; then you will dwell in the land which I have given you and your fathers.’ But you have not inclined your ear, nor obeyed Me. 16 Surely the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them, but this people has not obeyed Me.” ’

INTRODUCTION: Jeremiah 35.2-12 “2 “Go to the house of the Rechabites, speak to them, and bring them into the house of the Lord, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink.” 3 Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, his brothers and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites, 4 and I brought them into the house of the Lord, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which was by the chamber of the princes, above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door. 5 Then I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites bowls full of wine, and cups; and I said to them, “Drink wine.” 6 But they said, “We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, ‘You shall drink no wine, you nor your sons, forever. 7 You shall not build a house, sow seed, plant a vineyard, nor have any of these; but all your days you shall dwell in tents, that you may live many days in the land where you are sojourne…”

I. REJECTED HIS PRECEPTS

Jeremiah 35:13, 15; Proverbs 1:24-26

The RECHABITES LISTENED TO THEIR FATHER

Did Not Stray from their Father’s Command

Not Swayed by the Prestigious Place

Not Swayed by a Pious Person

Not Swayed by the Purity of the Present

Closed their ears to the Message

Jeremiah 35:13 NKJV

13 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, “Will you not receive instruction to obey My words?” says the Lord.

Closed their ears to the Messengers

Jeremiah 35:15 NKJV

15 I have also sent to you all My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, ‘Turn now everyone from his evil way, amend your doings, and do not go after other gods to serve them; then you will dwell in the land which I have given you and your fathers.’ But you have not inclined your ear, nor obeyed Me.

God sent Many Messengers

Multiple Messages

God offered a Massive amount of Mercy but they rejected

Proverbs 1:24–26 NKJV

24 Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, 25 Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes,

HAVE YOU LISTENED TO

THE RHETORIC OF Politicians,

THE REPORTS OF THE News REPORTERS

THE PREFERENCES OF professional singers,

THE ATTITUDES OF actors,

The people have

Dumped God’s Demands

Left His Law

Strayed From His Statues

Junked His Judgments

Trashed His Testimonies

Walked Away From His Word

What has been your answer to the Word of the LORD?

What was modeled in this passage by a biblical character that can help you live to the glory of God through Christ?

What steps need to be taken in your life so you will improve in receiving God’s Word when it is preached, taught, or read?

II. REJECTED HIS PERSON

Jeremiah 35:13-14, 16-17; Matthew 12:50; 7:21; 12:50;

Jeremiah 35:13–14 NKJV

13 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, “Will you not receive instruction to obey My words?” says the Lord. 14 “The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, which he commanded his sons, not to drink wine, are performed; for to this day they drink none, and obey their father’s commandment. But although I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, you did not obey Me.

Jeremiah 35:16–17 NKJV

16 Surely the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them, but this people has not obeyed Me.” ’ 17 “Therefore thus says the Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Behold, I will bring on Judah and on all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the doom that I have pronounced against them; because I have spoken to them but they have not heard, and I have called to them but they have not answered.’ ”

NOTICE THE END OF VERSE 16, “BUT THIS PEOPLE HAS NOT OBEYED ME” LOOK AT VERSE 17, I HAVE SPOKEN TO THEM BUT THEY HAVE NOT HEARD AND I CALLED THEM

Malachi 1:2–3 NKJV

2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” Says the Lord. “Yet Jacob I have loved; 3 But Esau I have hated, And laid waste his mountains and his heritage For the jackals of the wilderness.”

Matthew 12:50 NKJV

50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

Matthew 7:21 NKJV

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

FOLLOWED THE OPINION OF Activists,

THE POSITIONS OF Professional Athletes,

THE THOUGHTS OF TV personalities,

THE FAVORITE IDEAS FROM Facebook posts

How will you use the Word of God, the Spirit of God, and the people of God to change your actions toward honoring the God the Father through Christ?

III. REJECTED HIS PLAN

Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 28:1; Jeremiah 7:23; Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:14-15; 1 Thessalonians 5:5; 1 Peter 2:9; Acts 1:8;

Exodus 19:5 NKJV

5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.

Deuteronomy 28:1 NKJV

1 “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.

Jeremiah 7:23 NKJV

23 But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.’

Rejected His Will FOR HIS PEOPLE to be a WITNESS

They were suppose to be a witness

When Saints Obey God, it Reveals His Objective

Adhering God Reveals His Aim

INSTEAD OF BEING A WITNESS OF THE LORD’S GOODNESS, LOVINGKINDNESS, JUSTICE, AND MERCY

THEY EXCHANGED

Character for Comforts

Purity for Popularity

Righteousness for Riotous Living

THEY TOOK THE WAYS OF WICKED

THEY ACCEPTED THE PRACTICES OF THE WAYWARD

THEY WENT AFTER THE GODS OF THE OTHER NATION

Jeremiah 7:18 NKJV

18 The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods, that they may provoke Me to anger.

The people

. . . wrecked Their Witness

. . . marred Their Ministry

. . . messed up Their Mission

What about you followers of God through Christ? You who have been born again, saved, reconciled to God.

Don’t you suppose to be a witness? Look at Acts 1:8

Acts 1:8 NKJV

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

This is what Jesus meant when He said in Matthew 5:16

Matthew 5:16 NKJV

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Paul told the church in Philippi, in Philippians 2:14-15

Philippians 2:14–15 NKJV

14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

1 Thessalonians 5:5 NKJV

5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

1 Peter 2:9 NKJV

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Born again Believers, Saints of God

HAVE YOU EXCHANGED

Morals for money

Standards for Success

Piety for Pleasures

Jesus

Working

John 9:4 NKJV

4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.

Warring

Romans 13:12 NKJV

12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

Walking

Ephesians 5:8 NKJV

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

Witnessing

Philippians 2:15 NKJV

15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

Watching

1 Thessalonians 5:5–6 NKJV

5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.

What are you tying to say pastor? Glad you asked, God deserves More!

How will you use the Word of God, the Spirit of God, and the people of God to change your mindset toward fulfilling the Lord’s plan?